Samuel crocker



(No Model.)

S. CROCKER.

GAME APPARATUS.

Uni'rrn *raras artnr Ormes.

SAMUEL OROOKER, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,081, .dated October 19, 1897. Application fiiednmh 16,1897. semina. 627,807. naman.) Y

To all whom t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CROCKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Okla homa, in the county of Oklahoma and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented a newl and useful Game', of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to certain improvements in game apparatus, and more especially to such gaines as are played with cards in connection with a tally-board and scoring pins or pegs g and the obj ect of the invention is to provide a game of this character of a simple, entertaining, and instructive nature adapted to be played by two or more persons.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction, combination, and arrangement of the apparatus employed in playing the improved game, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claim.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings an apparatus embodying my improvements, in which drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of the tally-board employed for scoring the game, and Fig. 2 is a section taken transversely through the same on the line o os in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view showing the pins or pegs employed in connection with the tally-board shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view showing certain of the cards to b employed in playing the game.

As shown in the drawings, the tally-board is formed of a fiat rectangular tablet 1, having legs 2, preferably formed of cork or similar soft substance, secured to its under side at its corners. The upper face of the tablet 1 is covered over with a sheet 3 of cardboard, celluloid, or other material cemented or otherwise secured upon the tablet and having printed upon its surface the various marl;- ings and directions to guide the persons in playing and scoring the game, as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

In the tablet 1 are formed two sets of apertures 4 and 4, one for each of the two players, the set 4 being arranged at the left-hand side of the tablet, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the set 4fL being arranged at the righthand side of the tablet, each set comprising three columns of apertures extending llongitudiually along the tablet. These apertures are adapted to receive pins or pegs 5, the forms of Which are shown in Fig. 3, these pins or pegs 5 being employed 'for scoring the game, as Will be hereinafter explained.

The cards 6 (shown in Fig. 4) employed in playing the game will be also hereinafter described.

The two outer columns of apertures in each set 4 and 4a are formed into parallel series 7 and 8 at the upper end of the tablet, there being, as shown, twenty-[ive apertures in each series 7 and S. The sheet 3 forming the face of the tally-board has printed on it rulings forming spaces 9 and 10, inclosing the respective series 7 and S of apertures, and in said spaces opposite the respective series of apertures are printed or otherwise formed corresponding series 11 and 12 ofguide-numbers, each guide-number being arranged opposite to one of the apertures in the respective series 7 and S.

Above each of the spaces 9 at each side of the-tablet is printed the word Silver, and said Word, together with the guide-numbers 11 in said space,will be, by preference,printed in silver-bronze or ink of a distinctive color, While over each space 10 is printedthe word Gold, this word and the corresponding series of guide-numbers 12 being printed in gold-bronze or other distinctive color.

Each series 11 begins with the number 16, and its numbers increase in arithmetical progression by the successive addition of sixteen, so that the series reads 16, 32, 48, and so on down to 400. Each series 12 begins with the number f 1 i and also increases by the successive addition of one, so that it reads 1, 2, 3, and soon down to 25. By this arrangement it will be seen that the numbers opposite each other in the respective series 11 and 12 may be read together, being opposite each other-as, for example, 16 to 1, 32 to 2, 48 tof3,7 and so on down to 400 to 25, and it will thus be seenthat each two opposite numbers in the series 11 and 12 are to each' otherI in the relation of sixteen to one, this being the present coinage ratio of gold and silver. For example, six- IOO teen grains of silver equal one grain of gold, or four hundred grains oi silverequal twentyfive grains oli gold.

Below the spaces 9 and 10 and forming eontinuations thereof are produ eed supple men tal Spaces 13 and 1-1, in whieh are `formed series 15 and 1G el apertures, alined with and supplemental, respectively, to the series 7 and S, and forming parts of the same columns of apertures i, and opposite to the series 15 and 16 are printed series 17 and 1S oli' guide-nu 1nbers therefor. There are twelve apertures in the series 15, and there are twelve nurnbers inthe series 17, reading 2, 3, and so on down to 12. At the end oi' the series 15 is an additional aperture 15, and opposite it is a guidenuniber 17, reading l. In the series 1G are eight apertures, and there are eight guide-numbers in the series 1 S, eaeh reading $76.

Below the spaees 13 and 1t are lormed apertures 19 and20, havingguide orindex numbers 21 and 22, reading, respeetively, I1-127.1,"7 and 25,56, these being totals indieaiing the number o1 grains of silver and gold, respeetively, in one dollar. At the `foot of eaeh of the two outer eolumnsln and 1 on the tabletis a Carry aperture 23, having a guide or iudex number 2l reading $31.00, and at the foot of eaeh space ll, between the apertures 2O and 23, a series of apertures 25, live `in number, unprovided with guide or index numbers and adapted to hold the pins or pegs used by eaeh player.

The inner Columns of apertures L and 1 are formed in two parallel spaees 2o' and 27, extending longitudinally ol' the tablet, in whieh spaces the apertures are arranged in two series 2O and 30, having Corresponding guidenumbers or indexes 31 and There are ten apertures in eaeh series 29 and 30, and the ten guide-numbers in the Corresponding series eoinmenee with S52 and increase by the sueeessive addition ot' two dollars, so that they read 313536, and so on down to $20. At the foot of eaeh of the inner eolumns oi apertures 1 and -lf is another aperture 33 to receive the pin or peg of the player winning the game. At the lower Central part of the tablet is a blank spaee 28, wherein may be printed an advertisement or other matter, and at opposite sides of this spaee 28 are letters A and 13 to indieate the sides seleoted by the players.

Eaeh player is provided with six pins or pegs, one of these being eolored blaek, as shown at 35 in Fig. 3, two being painted or Colored to imitate gold and being used in the apertures S, 16, 22, and 213, and three being Colored or painted to imitate silver and being used in the apertures 7, 15, 15, 1f), and The gold pins are indicated at 36 and 36 in Fig. 3, the pin 3G being of greater length than the pin 3W. The silver pins or pegs are indicated at 37, 37, and 37b in Fig. 3,the pin 37 being of greater length than the pins 37 and 37", and the pin 37b having its head end eut away or Ilattened at one sido, and being used in the aperture 15, eorrespoiuling to one-half a grainv ol silver.

1n playing the game [orly-eight eards (i, sueh as are shown in lilg. l, are employed, these Cards being similar in size. U1 the forty-eight eards Vl'our are blanl;s, being unprovided with printed markings, as indicated at 3311i Fig. rlhe remaining forty- Vfour Cards are marked with numbers 3l, printed at diagonally opposite corners and Yfaeing toward opposite ends, after the fashion olindexedplaying-Cards. Ui'theseforty-four printed eards, one Vis marked l-.7 There are six marked 1. Ot those1narl ed2," 63,77 ((4: 77 4653776661?? (C7777 S977 EC 7? a-re two eaeh. Five Cards are marlied 1t). Of those marked 11, 12, 123, 11, and 15 there are two eaeh, and of those marked 11,3 there are six. The ear-ds fi are employed for determining the poin is mad e l y the players, the tally-board and pegs or pins 5 being employed to record the poin .s or lceep the seore.

ln playing the game, the eards l5 are shui? lied and dealt, and by playing certain cards upon Certain leads Combinations are formed which may be eounted. The points thus made are ol? two kinds or classes, one class being seored by eaeh player upon the eolumn headed Silver and the other under the eolumn headed Gold. The objeet el? eaeh player is to mahe enough of these eomhinations to bring the pins or pegs 5 in eaeh eoluinn down to the respective total-apertures 1f) and 20. As soon ias one pin has been plaeed in said aperture it talien out and set in the Carry-apertare 2 of its eolumn,

counting in that position 31.00, and as soon as the other pin or peg 5 has been also brought down to itsl earry-aperture, so as lo seeure another 31.00, the player removes the pins Vfrom the earry-apertnres 23 and plaees his peg or pin 35 in the lirst aperture of, say, the series 2.() on spaee 2(5,oppos1te the niark 32, signifying that he has wen two points in the game. 'lhus it will beseen that not less than two points at a time ean be seored upon the eentral series 2E) and 230 el.' apertures, the single points being tallied upon the apertures at the lower end el' the outer two Columns.

The following regulations should be ohn served in playing the game: lwo, l'our, sir, or eight persons may Contest 'the game, but sinee two cards eonstitnte a ctrielii two opponents must always play together, and when there are more than two players eaeh two opponents will play together independent et the other players, although the partners will of course, seore together.

7 .if two persons are playing, twelve eards should be dealt, lonr at a time; if four are playing, twelve eards should also be dealt; il six persons, eight cards, and il eight persons are playing eards should be dealt to each.

Elow comhraazfoa-s are jbfi'med.--Su pposin g TOO 'one grain of gold in the aperture S.

A deals and B leads, A, in order to take the trick, aims to play on Bs card either a blank r one with a number which, added to the number of Bs card, will make either 167 or 1, unless A is playing to secure one grain or one-half grain of silver or one-tenth of a grain of gold. If the card played by A is one greater in its printed number than the card led by B, it enables A to count or score If A plays a blank card or any card the number of which added to the number of Bs card gives a sum of 16, this enables A to count sixteen grains of silver in the aperture 7. By playing a card numbered 1677 on a card numbered 1,7 or vice versa, one grain of silver may be scored. By playing the card numberec 95 on a card numbered 16, or vice versa, one is enabled to count or score the half grain of silver. By playing a card numbered 1 on one numbered 10, or vice versa, one is enabled to count or score one-tenth grain of gold. After single and fractional points have been once counted, they cannot be again counted. After the player has scored sixteen grains of silver or one grain of gold twenty-five times he places the corresponding long pin 36 or 37 in the lower aperture 7 or S', and proceeds with the shorter pins to score in the supplemental series and 16. When the series 15 has been traversed and the half grain of silver has been scored, the pin 37b is placed in the aperture 15n and the pin 37 is placed in the carryaperture A3. The half grain of silver may be scored at any time during the game. Vhen the series 16 has been traversed, the player transfers his short pin 36a to the carry-aperture 23. Having won two points, these are then Carried to the column 29 or 30.

A player playing` a card the number of which corresponds with the number of the card on which it is played forfeits sixteen grains of silver or one grain of gold.

If desired the players may play but a part of the game, the pins being placed opposite each other in the perforations 7 and 8. In this .case the pins or pegs should be moved in a direction opposite to that in which they were before moved-that is, toward the top of the tablet.

From the above description it will be seen that the improved game is of a very entertaining and instructive nature, and is of a very simple and inexpensive nature, and it will be' also seen that the game can be played with many variations and the apparatus employed may be somewhat modified without material departure from the principles and spirit of the invention, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise form and arrangement of the parts herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I Claim- A game apparatus comprising a tally-board or tablet having a set of apertures to receive the scoring pegs or pins of each player, each set comprising two parallel series having parallel series of guide-numbers corresponding in ratio, supplemental series of apertures also having guide-numbers, an additional aperture below one of said supplemental series7 a carry-aperture at the end of each supplemental series, and another series of apertures for recording points Won, and having guide-numbers commencing with 2 and increasing by the successive addition of two, pins or pegs for each player comprising a pin foreach series of apertures and a separate pin for the additional aperture below the supplemental series of apertures, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL CROCKER.

Witnesses:

JAMES M. HoUsEL, FRANKLIN SPRINGER. 

